ACDWL 154: It Happened Suddenly One Day

– Eldred’s Side –

 

Although my appearance has already become similar to that of my Dad when he’s in beast form, I’m still aware that I’m a child who can’t stop seeking comfort from my Mom.

Unlike my Dad, my mane is black in color.

When I transform into my human form, my hair will likely be the same black color as my Mom’s.

My eyes are the same color as my Dad’s.

Mom says, “You’ve inherited your Dad’s clinginess,” but I don’t think of Dad as someone who is clingy.

It’s just that Dad dotes on Mom constantly.

We, my siblings and I, are simply concerned about Mom’s delicate health.

Grandpa is also always trying his best to spoil Mom.

Everyone around Mom worries about him without reason.

He’s always kind, his cooking is delicious, and he’s even cute, which continues to capture my interest.

I still admire Dad for his strength, but I don’t think my interest in him is as strong as before.

I’ve never had thoughts like “Is he feeling alright?” or “I have to protect him!” for Dad like I did for Mom.

Dad is an Akinist, while I am a half-Akinist.

There’s no way we can catch up to Dad no matter what we do.

We can never be as strong as Dad.

Although it’s said that we’ve inherited the power of Akinists strongly, the difference in power between us and Dad is incomparable.

If anyone should be worried, it should be me.

I am currently 16 years old.

Cal is 13 years old, and Dee is 12 years old.

Dee’s mane hasn’t fully grown yet, but Cal’s mane has already grown.

Cal and Dee’s manes are the same reddish-brown color as Dad’s.

However, Cal and Dee’s manes are somewhat different.

Cal’s mane is curly like Dad’s and mine, but Dee’s mane is straight.

When Cal and I transform into our human forms, our hair will probably be curly like Dad’s, while Dee’s hair will be straight like Mom’s.

We already know that Jay’s hair is curly.

Unlike us, Jay is attending the tower to become a magician.

Even now, at the age of eight, Jay still speaks very little, but he had become more talkative compared to before.

It’s probably thanks to Mom’s patient efforts.

However, perhaps because he needs to speak a lot for incantations, it seems that Jay speaks less around the house, except when interacting with Mom.

I often see Jay wrapping his arms around Mom’s waist and clinging to him.

After Jay was born, Mom didn’t have another child for a while.

Jay has a slower growth rate and weaker power compared to us.

Perhaps because he resembled Mom in appearance, even when Jay clings to Mom, even Dad didn’t get angry.

…Though occasionally they were separated without warning.

There were also times when Dad lifted Mom and, with the other arm, lifted Jay.

Now, beneath Jay, there is a younger brother.

Newly born, his name is Maynard.

…Though most people call him May.

Mom’s shoulder had become May’s designated spot.

Being born in Akinist form means he will grow quickly.

The days he can ride on Mom’s shoulder will be short-lived.

“Hey, Jay. Since Mom is cooking, can I rely on you to take care of May?”

“…Mm.”

Reluctantly taking May into his arms, Jay reluctantly moved away from Mom.

Jay either sticks close to Mom or sleeps somewhere around here.

Even among siblings, there wasn’t much conversation, and Jay was often found napping in the gaps between furniture or against the walls.

During the day, we are often training in the barracks, while Jay is at the tower.

We only see each other in the morning and evening.

When we return from the barracks, Jay is always home first, spending every day clinging to Mom.

Even our lunch together has become less frequent since Jay started going to the tower.

Now it’s more often that Jay and Mom ate together.

When we have meals as a family in the barracks, we usually pick up Jay from the tower before coming to the barracks.

Jay doesn’t have as much power as Mom, and apparently, the apprenticeship period involved consuming a lot of magical power while learning magic, so their training often lasts until noon.

That’s why I understand why Jay comes home earlier than us.

Jay, who only appears in his humanoid form, often helps Mom, just like Dad does.

Since we can’t transform yet, it’s challenging for us to carry things.

However, Jay can easily move things around.

He can help Mom more than I can.

…I should be able to carry heavier things than Jay once I transform.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about that a lot.

Mom tells us that we don’t need to help because we must be tired from training until just before dinner.

But I’m not getting as tired as before.

“Rodo, can you help me carry this?”

I heard Mom’s voice calling for Dad from the kitchen.

(If only I could transform, I could help too…)

It’s frustrating that I can only carry things with my mouth.

I’ve been told that I’ll be able to transform soon, but I want to become capable of doing everything as soon as possible.

Just as I was gazing resentfully at Dad’s back as he headed towards the kitchen…

(!? What’s happening?!)

A sound like bones cracking echoed through my body, accompanied by a tingling sensation crawling under my skin.

It wasn’t painful or uncomfortable, but the sense of something being off was strong.

(…Huh?)

The fur on my forelegs started to vanish, revealing a brownish skin underneath.

Could this be… the moment of transformation?

“…. Eldred has transformed.”

“Huh!? Transformed?! El!?”

When Dad came out of the kitchen carrying food, our eyes met.

I could hear the panicked voice and footsteps of Mom in response to Dad’s words.

“Y-You’re right…. El, congratulations. We’ll have to go and find a Sekisva for you starting tomorrow.”

Looking at me, Mom’s eyes filled with tears, and he smiled with joy.

“Other than the hair color, you look just like Rodo…. Hehe, it’s like Rodo has become a little younger.”

As Mom was caressing my head, he soon realized that I was naked and hurriedly went back to his room.

When he returned, he had Dad’s clothes in his hands.

“For now, wear these. We’ll have to go and buy some clothes tomorrow.”

Typically, when you’ve just transformed and don’t know your body size, it’s common to prepare oversized clothes that can be adjusted with strings.

But Mom said that borrowing Dad’s clothes temporarily would be fine.

My grandfather and Dad have similar body types.

Dee might be a bit smaller when she transforms since she’s a girl.

Every time Jay grows a little, his clothes are custom-made.

Of course, Mom, who is smaller than any other transformed being, also gets his clothes custom-made each time.

I seem to be similar in size to Dad and the others.

I think it would be good to get clothes while buying Dad’s clothes.

I prefer the clothes Mom chooses over buying them myself because I’m not interested in clothes.

Akinists are said to have few interests, and I really think that’s true.

For now, my interests are limited to my family and work.

I don’t have any other interests.

…rather, I can’t seem to find them.

“Hehe… El, you look cool.”

Mom fixed the collar that was out of place.

I’m glad that my transformed appearance resembles Dad.

Looking up at me with a happy face and reaching out his hand to my cheek, Mom looks beautiful.

But being transformed means I can help Mom even more from now on.

I can even lift him and move him around.

I want to be more useful to Mom.

“Mom, I’ll help with carrying the dishes too.”

“Thank you.”

Just by helping a little, Mom smiles happily.

With Dad around, carrying the dishes is quickly done.

We have dinner together with grandfather.

That’s why Grandfather often helps with carrying the dishes too.

And now, Jay sometimes helps as well.

And from now on, I can join in too.

I’m still just a child, but I want to become an adult who can protect my Mom and my younger siblings.

 

– Eldred’s Side End –

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Author’s Note:

It turned out to be a longer story than I expected, but thank you for staying with me until the end.

I’m grateful to everyone who provided feedback and pointed out any typos in my humble work.

There might be additional side stories in the future, but for now, I consider this story concluded.

Thank you very much (^-^)/”